The National tribune., 1887-04-07
WALKERS FORD.
The Fight There and the Cold Bath OF the Indi-
anlans.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
of Dec. % Comrade Till Dagger told what he
knew of the fight at Walkers Ford, East Tenn
i was there, too, in command of Co. ID, 1ISth
Ind; therefore shall speak only Of its part in
the action. Our Colonel Jackson was-in COM
mand of the brigade, and our Lieutenant Col
ouel Of the regiment. On the morning of Dec.
2. 1863, we left Tazewell with 80 rounds of
ammunition, going south on the Knoxville
road. After marching eight miles we heard
firing in our front, and received orders to dou-
ble-quick. -Four miles farther on we came to
the crossing of Clinch River at Walkers Ford
Here We were given short rest to allow the
men to cool a little before wading the lev
waters, for there was floating ice in the river.
We were informed that the cavalry was en-
gagged with a superior body of the enemy,
and was falling back, fighting, toward the
ford, and was nearly out of ammunition It
was necessary TO hold the rebels In check until
the artillery could be brought up and placed
in position to dispute the crossing Of the river
For this purpose the 115th and 1l6th Ind had
to take that cold bath. COL jackson being
in command of the brigade, naturally chose his
own regiment to take the lead. We crossed
the river at IL a. m, and marched up a canyon,
with the steep hills on either side, about mile
and half. Here the 118th was divided the
right wing going half way up the hill on our
right, with Co. A thrown out as skirmisaers, and
the left wing going half way up the hill on the
left, with Cos. b and III as skrmishers
The cavalry now fell back and our skirmish-
ers were soon warmly engaged. This tree
lodging fight lasted for four hours, when. on
looking up the hill, we discovered rebel line
bearing down on our right flank, and we made
preeipitate advance to the rear.
After hasty go-as- we-cOuld retreat for about
half a mile we reformed, think now, in the
rear of the lI6th. We remained here in line
- h. 81
and took position on the hillside Just north of
the ford and in front of battery, where we
lay in our wet clothes, exposed to a cold and
cutting wind, without fire or shelter of any
kind, until about 2 o'clock a. M, when We went
back behind hill, built fires and warmed up.
Just before daylight we were again placed in
position ready to renew the fight, but no enemy
put in an appearance. / think the 116th re-
crossed the river about the same time we did.
The artillery duel at this time and after was
| quiet interesting. / think the rebels retreated
in the evening, but we were not certain of it
until morning. They found US too well posted
at the ford to undertake to cross it in our faces
They would have found it warm undertaking.
Our loss-1tSth Ind.-from the enemy's
missiles was one killed and IA wounded; but
that from exposure cannot be told, as they have
been dropping by the wayside for % years.
Our total loss was eight killed and 20 wounded
| The rebel prisoners taken day or two subsos
| quently reported their killed at 20 and the
wounded unknown. This was the first and
last fighting for the 11Sth Ind; but they showed
that they had the proper stuff in them if oc-
cason should offer. as well as to bear the ex-
| tremest hardships and exposure. The effect Of
wading to the armpits in ice water when worn
and weary was almost instantaneous colds and
| coughing, and such another barking as was set
up on that hillside perhaps never was heard.
| Many were hurried to their graves and many
now are still suffering the effects of that terri
| BILE chill. OF certainty, Government cannot
pay these men for their suffering, and we do
not ask it, but we do ask it to give of its abun-
dance to relieve those from want who have been
disabled by wounds and exposure from gaining
a livelihood, and we will continue to ask it
until it is heard in every nook and corner of
the halls of Congress.-M. BUCHANAN, Cap
tain, Co. ID, 11Sth Ind, Onion Peak, Ore.